36925 Willow Road, New Boston, Michigan Reverend Brad Lewis, Pastor

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1 WILLOW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Willow Road, New Boston, Michigan Reverend Brad Lewis, Pastor OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS PASTOR BRAD THE COMMUNICATOR FEBRUARY 2016 A NOTE FROM PASTOR BRAD: Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My name is Rev. Brad Lewis. My wife, Debbie, and I look forward to becoming part of the fellowship at Willow UMC beginning February 1. Several months ago Rev. Mark Spaw, Ann Arbor District Superintendent, called me with a request. He asked if I might consider being assigned to a full-time ministry position again. As a retired United Methodist pastor I am not part of the appointment system and have the freedom to accept or turn down ministry assignments. I responded to Rev. Spaw s request with a question, What would I be serving and how long would I be expected to serve? Once I understood his request I told him I needed to pray about what my answer should be, and I needed to talk it over with my wife. The next day I called Pastor Marianne and learned more about the good ministry that is being done at Willow. After more prayer and conversation with my wife, I gave Rev. Spaw a call and accepted the assignment. Perhaps some background about myself will help put my assignment to Willow UMC in perspective. I am a second career pastor having worked in a variety of positions before entering the ministry including restaurant manager, several sales positions, and as a radiation protection & quality control specialist at the Fermi II Nuclear Power Station in Newport, MI for eight years. In 1989 God called me into ordained ministry through the Disciple course that I attended while a member at St. Paul s UMC in Monroe, MI. From 1991 to 1994 I attended United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio while serving as a student pastor at the Wellsville UMC in Blissfield, MI. Since then, I have served the Community UMC in Romulus for four years, the Good Shepherd UMC of the North in Roscommon for twelve years, and after retirement in 2010, I served the Monroe First UMC 3/4 time for two years from 2011 to For the last 14 months I have worked part-time at Lowe s in Monroe. There is more I could relate to you, but what is most important is how good I feel about the opportunity to work with all of you to make the Lord s love, grace, hope and help seen and felt in our community and the world. Grace be with all of you, Pastor Brad Lewis

2 Willow Church Ministries Food Pantry: Ethel s food pantry offers short term assistance for any in need. 1 bag of groceries at a time. The food pantry is open 24/7. Please call the for information or to request assistance. Spiritual Growth and : A weekly study fellowship with emphasis on deepening personal spirituality with practical disciplines. Study group meets Thursdays at 7:00. Prayer Ministry: Our congregation offers, through prayer and meditation, intercessory prayer for any concern 24 hours a day. Please call the office to leave your prayer requests. AA Ministry: Utilize a 12 step program to help those suffering the effects of alcohol addiction. Meetings are held at the Wednesdays at 6:00 Music Ministry: and worship opportunities through music participation. Practice every Wednesday at 7:00. Children s Ministry: Christian education during worship service is offered weekly to foster and guide our children in their faith under the direction of Jeanne Lochner. Children s Church is held each Sunday, coordinated by Jennifer Johnson. This newsletter is compiled by Donna Lee Hornyak. A special thanks to Gail Sobecki and all who submit articles. If you would like to add to The Communicator, please e mail me at dhornyak2@gmail.com. Thought for the Day: Every care that I can turn over to God makes room for another blessing. Willow Church Cook Books We have a limited number of Willow Church Cook Books remaining for sale. Those interested please see Martha Molnar for purchase. $10.00 each. Willow United Methodist Church Willow Road New Boston, MI Rev. Brad Lewis, Pastor address: bklewis2105@gmail.com Pastor Cell Phone Number: Altar Flowers: Altar flowers can be displayed as a memorial or in honor of someone or something or a special event. Cost per bouquet: if only 1 bouquet is purchased for the same week is $ Cost if 2 vases are purchased is $12.50 each. Make all checks to Darlene s Flowers. Please contact Vanessa Lenz at Orders and payments are required 2 weeks prior to date. Office Hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays Church phone: Fax: Sunday Service 9:30 AM Jeanne Lochner: Children s Ministry Director Karen Struble Organist and Music Director FOOD PANTRY 24/

3 20 Things to Give up for Lent We celebrate Ash Wednesday this month and the beginning of Lent. Many Christians give up something for Lent, but usually it has very little impact on their life and walk with Christ. The reason is that we usually give stuff up for all the wrong reasons. With that said, here are 20 things you might consider giving up this Lent. And these are things to give up not just for Lent, but for the rest of your life. Guilt I am loved by Jesus and He has forgiven my sins. Today is a new day and the past is behind. Fear God is on my side. In Him I am more than a conqueror. (see Romans 8) The need to please everyone I can t please everyone anyways. There is only one I need to strive to please. Envy I am blessed. My value is not found in my possessions, but in my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Impatience God s timing is the perfect timing. Sense of entitlement The world does not owe me anything. God does not owe me anything. I live in humility and grace. Bitterness and Resentment The only person I am hurting by holding on to these is myself. Blame I am not going to pass the buck. I will take responsibility for my actions. Gossip and Negativity I will put the best construction on everything when it comes to other people. I will also minimize my contact with people who are negative and toxic, bringing other people down. Comparison I have my own unique contribution to make and there is no one else like me. Fear of failure You don t succeed without experiencing failure. Just make sure you fail forward. A spirit of poverty Believe with God that there is always more than enough and never a lack. Feelings of unworthiness You are fearfully and wonderfully made by your creator. (see Psalm 139) Doubt Believe God has a plan for you that is beyond anything you could imagine. The future is brighter than you could ever realize. Self - Pity God comforts us in our sorrow so that we can comfort others with the comfort we receive from God. Retirement As long as you are still breathing, you are here for a reason. Excuses A wise man once said, if you need an excuse, any excuse will do. Lack of counsel Wise decisions are rarely made in a vacuum. Pride Blessed are the humble. Worry God is in control and worrying will not help. God has so much more in store for you. But so many of these things above are holding you back from walking in the full destiny he has laid out for you. Today is a new day.

4 February Sermon titles and scripture readings: Feb. 7 Transfiguration of Lord Sunday; Breathing with God Luke 9:28-36 Feb. 10 Ash Wednesday; I Did? Joel 2:1-2, Feb. 14 First Sunday in Lent; App-ing Toward Holiness Luke 4:1-13 Feb. 21 Second Sunday in Lent; Do You Have the Look? Philippians 3:17-4:1 Feb. 28 Third Sunday in Lent; Never Give Up Luke 13:1-9 Willow United Methodist Church Administrative Board Meeting January 24, 2015 Meeting opened with prayer at 10:49 a.m. ATTENDANCE: Jan Holland, Katherine Buck, Donna Lee Hornyak, Martha Molnar, Amy Harrison, Tina Szalek, Helena & R.P Lilly, Jim & Kathy Farr, and John Tarr. ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD: November 15 Ad Board & November 20 Special Ad Board minutes were read. Donna Lee motioned to accept: Amy supported. Motion carried. Mark rescinded a previous motion for the to pay for a microphone & speaker system for the Fellowship Hall. (Women's group to purchase) Mark motioned that the catering for Pastor Marianne's Farewell Luncheon be paid using the anniversary money up to the remainder of the account ($946). Amy supported. Motion carried with 9 yeas & I nay. PASTOR S REPORT: Via Pastor Marianne, reported by John Tarr, Gene Blair a retired former UMC supervisor is requesting to use our Fellowship Hall for a Lego Camp. It would be week of July or 18-22, Kathy motioned to give him permission to do so. Martha supported. Motion carried. TRUSTEES: Plumbing issues have been taken care of. There is an issue with the safe unable to open. John is looking into it. John motioned to the Administrative Board for permission to install baseboards in the altar area, along with some outlets throughout the. R.P. supported. Motion carried. FINANCIAL: November 2015 Finance Report reviewed R.P. motioned to accept the report. Martha supported. Motion carried. December 2015 Financial Report reviewed. Mark motioned to accept. R.P. supported. Motion carried. BUDGET:2015 Budget was met. ADJOURNMENT:Jim motioned to adjourn. Martha supported. Meeting adjourned 12:02. Recording Secretary Janet Holland

5 WERE YOU HERE????? When the Willow Church congregation participated in remembering our Baptism? When we were asked to leave 2015 behind and put our HOPE IN GOD? When we were reminded that EVERYONE IS WELCOME AT THE TABLE OF GRACE? When we lifted our lit candles in celebration of the birth of JESUS CHRIST? When we celebrated with Pastor Marianne her new journey with her God and family? When our lay leader Mark Buttignoli reminded us that God works in and through the ordinary for all of us? When Pastor Marianne explained that our task is to work together to serve Christ? We all get discouraged some days, but it s important to remember that Jesus also crosses our path each day. If we ask Him, He will open our eyes to the hope he offers each of us. Let s PRAY: Dear Lord, give us eyes to see beyond our limited vision. Teach us to see you in our everyday lives. Amen Do You Believe??? TO PASTOR BRAD FROM WILLOW CHURCH: From the United Methodist Interpreter Do you believe in God? Why? Ask yourself that question. These three questions will challenge each of us to answer with responses drawn from our own beliefs, learning and lives. For some, answers will be at the ready, others may need some reflection with God through prayer, with brothers and sisters in Christ or other trusted friends. 1. What do you believe in and why? 2. What difference does it make that you are a person of faith? 3. How does being a disciple of Jesus Christ affect your life? PLEASE JOIN US WEDNESDAY EVENING 7:00 PM FOR OUR ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE FEBRUARY 10TH

6 February 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat AA 6:00 Rehearsal 7:00 7:00 at the Welcome Coffee Hour for Pastor Brad Communion Children s Church AA 6:00 ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE 7:00 Karen Wilson 7:00 at the Children s Church First Sunday of Lent Coffee Hour Hollie & Ed Morrison Zachery Johnson AA 6:00 Rehearsal 7: :00 at the Tessa Bailey Jan Holland Second Sunday of Lent Children s Church Ed Miller Kitty Harrison AA 6:00 Rehearsal 7:00 7:00 at the Fay Cannon Ad. Bd. Mtg Third Sunday of Lent Children s Church AA 6:00 Rehearsal 7:00 7:00 at the

7 PASTOR MARIANNE S FAREWELL

8 WE SALUTE PASTOR MARIANNE

9 WILLOW CHURCH FAMILY HONORS PASTOR MARIANNE